SF supervisors take on U.S. immigration authorities

In the latest showdown with the federal government — albeit a more symbolic one — the Board of Supervisors today approved a nonbinding resolution that asks the Sheriff’s Department and Juvenile Probation Department to not spend any local money when detaining suspected undocumented immigrants at the request of U.S. immigration authorities.

The resolution, backed by immigrant rights advocates, provides political backing for the two departments if they choose to ignore requests from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to hold people in custody ”unless there is prior written agreement with the federal government by which all costs incurred by (San Francisco) in complying with the ICE detainer shall be reimbursed.”

Federal immigration officials sometimes request that local jails hold inmates to give them more time to pick people up before starting deportation proceedings.

Sheriff Michael Hennessey, who has led a national charge challenging federal immigration policy, nonetheless did not endorse the legislation.

“I support the spirit of the resolution,” said Hennessey, who is retiring next month after 32 years on the job.

He noted that he already has implemented a policy to not honor ICE detainers on inmates jailed for misdemeanors. But, he said, he would have concerns about releasing inmates incarcerated for violent felonies back into the community. In addition, he said, he is not sure what would be needed to set up a reimbursement program.

The board voted 8-3 in favor of the legislation, with support from Supervisors John Avalos, David Campos, David Chiu, Malia Cohen, Jane Kim, Eric Mar, Scott Wiener and Ross Mirkarimi, who will succeed Hennessey. Opposed were Supervisors Carmen Chu, Sean Elsbernd and Mark Farrell.